Box Score Grand Valley State dropped a 21-16 decision at #2 Ferris State Saturday afternoon before a crowd at 7,948 at Top Taggart Field. The Lakers, which fall to 8-2 overall, will host Wayne State Saturday (Nov. 16) at Lubbers Stadium in the regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 

After a scoreless first quarter the Lakers put together an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive that took 4:43 off the clock. The Laker running game produced 31 yards and QB Cole Kotopka completed a 45 yard pass to WR Brandon Wadley to move GVSU into scoring position. The drive stalled out, but redshirt freshman place kicker converted a career-long, 36-yard field goal to give GVSU a 3-0 lead. The GVSU defense got in the scoring column with under a minute left in the second quarter as senior LB Isaiah Nkansah returned a fumble 79 yard for a touchdown. The return was the fifth longest return in GVSU football history, but the point after attempt was missed and the Lakers led 9-0 with 56 seconds left in the first half. Following the kickoff Ferris State started the possession on the GVSU 32 yard line. A return of 21 yards was followed by an egregious unsportsmanlike penalty on GVSU. FSU turned the good field position into a touchdown with just 19 seconds left in the second quarter to pull the Bulldogs within two (9-7).

The Lakers put together an 8-play, 31-yard drive in the third quarter that would end up resulting in a punt, but well after several disputed calls. GVSU converted a fake punt for a first down and faced a second down when Kotopka hit RB Bryce Young-Walls with a completed pass over the middle that he took at least three steps with the ball after the catch and was tackled, with the result being a first down inside the Ferris State 15 yard line. However, well after the play and a lengthy discussion amongst the officials it was ruled the pass was incomplete. Fox Sports Detroit replays clearly showed it was a completed pass. 

Following a three and out, the Laker offense drove deep inside Bulldog territory, but a 37-yard field goal was wide left. 

Ferris State took advantage of good field position midway through the third quarter en route to two touchdowns that upped the lead to 21-9. 

Grand Valley State pulled to within five with a 7-play, 95-yard scoring drive with under three minutes left in the game. Kotopka completed passes for 10 and 15 yards to WR Charles Gaines before a 62-yard completion to Wadley that resulted in a touchdown. 

GVSU was unable to recover the onside kick and the Bulldogs ran out the clock. 

Kotopka completed 10-of-26 passes for 190 yards and a TD, while rushing for 29 yards. Wadley hauled in four receptions for 138 yards and a TD. RB Ayruan Cain-Veasey toted the ball 17 times for 90 yards. WR Austin Paritee missed over three quarters of the game when he was healded down on a pass inference call that resulted in a lower body injury. 

Senior LB Isaiah Nkansah led the defense with 15 tackles, 2.0 TFL (-4) and a fumble return for a TD, while fellow LB Tyler Bradfield chipped in 12 stops. FS Antonio Strong and LB Brendann Brown each tallied eight tackles.